Islam Makhachev is currently the reigning UFC lightweight champion. Now, he has identified Dustin Poirier as his most significant hurdle in the division.
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Islam Makhachev is a renowned fighter in the world of mixed martial arts, particularly in the UFC lightweight division. Known for his dominant grappling skills and well-rounded approach to fighting, Makhachev has established himself as a formidable force, aiming to leave a lasting mark in the sport.
Islam Makhachev is currently the reigning UFC lightweight champion. Now, he has identified Dustin Poirier as his most significant hurdle in the division. This designation comes after Makhachev’s previous perception of Beneil Dariush as a formidable opponent was “flipped on its head” due to the outcome of UFC 289. Makhachev now acknowledges Poirier as the fighter who poses the greatest challenge to his lightweight supremacy.
Following the conclusion of EagleFC 52 on June 17, Makhachev engaged in a conversation inside the ring with ‘YukaHero.’ The discussion took place while they were both in the arena, allowing Makhachev to share his insights and thoughts on the event.
“I don’t know. Maybe Poirier,” Makhachev said when inquired about his next toughest challenge. “He has a big name in the UFC. Well… I can’t say for sure. Dariush lost, everything turned upside down, I can’t say anything for now,” he said. “If [Dariush] had beat Oliveira, it would have been a good fight. Dariush’s skills were highly appreciated. It would have been a good fight. “
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Despite the limited options available, Makhachev’s pool of potential opponents remains narrow. He has already conquered the top-ranked contender, Oliveira. The second-ranked Poirier and third-ranked Gaethje are scheduled to face each other in July. Meanwhile, fourth-ranked Dariush recently suffered a defeat against Oliveira. Fifth-ranked Michael Chandler is currently focused on his bout with Conor McGregor.
During an episode of the “TimboSugarshow” on June 12, bantamweight title contender Sean O’Malley expressed his support for a rematch between Oliveira and Makhachev. O’Malley engaged in a discussion about the possible fight, sharing his thoughts and opinions on the matchup. The topic of a potential rematch between the two fighters sparked interest and conversation within the MMA community.
“He seems fired the f*** up, motivated, ready to go …. Islam’s coming off a very controversial win over Alexander Volkanovski. Charles coming off a dominating win over Beneil Dariush. Very interesting fight. That’s what I wanna see next at ’55. I don’t really care to see anyone else. I wanna see Charles vs. Islam 2.”
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